She hardly had time to blink.
Nine days after Tennessee’s 2026 season ended with a pair of losses to eventual national champion Texas at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Karlyn Pickens was back in the circle Wednesday night representing the Carolina Blaze of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. The top overall pick of last month’s AUSL draft pitched a complete game with five strikeouts as the Blaze defeated the Portland Cascade 11-2 in five innings.
“It was an awesome night of softball,” Pickens said afterward in a press conference. “It was great to be around so many amazing people, and the fan base was electric. It’s amazing to see all the familiar faces you’re playing against and with.
“There are players I grew up watching and players I played against in college.”
Carolina, which opened its season with a 4-1 win over Portland on Tuesday, plays its home games at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.